Nav’s Small Business Grant
$10,000 to take your business to the next level
The Prizes
Grand Prize:
$10,000 check made out to the business
1st Runner-Up
$2,000 check made out to the business
2nd Runner-Up
$1,000 check made out to the business
How to apply:
Sign Up for a Free Nav Account
- What your business does and a challenge you overcame or continue to struggle with in your business.
- What you’ll do with the grant funds.
- Bonus points: include a photo of you in action at work.
You may write about your challenge, produce a video, do a recording, etc. Get creative, and encourage your friends and family to like and share your post! Read our instructions below about how to tag Nav on Facebook.
Applications are accepted until March 15th, 2019. The winner will be announced early April.
Grants are considered income for tax purposes. Understand the tax implications of business grants before you apply.
Meet our Grand Prize winner: CJ’s Bait & Tackle
Owner: Chris & Conner Jones
Read Chris’ Application
Meet our 1st Runner-Up: Caffeine Corps
Owner: Mandy Clark-Green
Read Mandy’s Application
Meet our 2nd Runner-Up: Calyan Wax Co.
Owner: Jacob Johnson
Read Jacob’s Application
Previous Winners
Meet our first grant winner: Founding Foods
From Rachel Irons, the owner of Founding Foods:
“My company, Founding Foods makes Real Meal Bars and Invasive Species Jerky. And when I say “make,” I mean it: Every week, a few dedicated friends and I head to our rented commercial kitchen to chop, season, and process choice cuts of wild boar meat into delicious jerky.”
About Founding Foods’ challenge:
“We have not been able to keep up with the demand at Farmers’ Markets and specialty events; and we are not able to sell through retail stores because we do not have a USDA certified kitchen.The best solution to these challenges is to use a third party co-packer. This would allow us to scale up and finally sell in stores. But the minimum run for the co-packer is 2,000 lbs. So we’re stuck: we need to produce more jerky, but we don’t have enough capital to take the next step. Basically, a co-packer will unlock the next stage of our business. For that to happen, we need 2,000 lbs of wild boar meat, which costs exactly $10,000.”
Why we liked Founding Foods’ Application (aka tips to win):
- Rachel was candid and specific about her business challenge —and it was a challenge that many business owners can relate to — access to capital.
- She had a clear plan for the $10,000 and it was the perfect amount of money needed change the course of her business.
- Rachel’s passions for her company’s mission stood out in her application.
- She included photos of her in action at Founding Foods.
Read Founding Foods’ full Facebook post here.
About Nav & The Grant
Like most small business owners, we’re a little unruly here at Nav. Our co-founders are lifelong entrepreneurs who had to go over, through and around roadblocks in order to chase their dream. If this sounds familiar, we want to make your life easier.
Nav is the free way to monitor your personal and business credit in one spot. Over 350,000 business owners use Nav today. You can get your business credit ratings for free after signing up, and you can find small business loans and business credit cards in our business financing marketplace.
We’ve launched the Nav Small Business Grant to give $10,000 to help a deserving business take their company to the next level. If you’ve ever dealt with a tough business challenge but refused to quit, we invite you to apply. It’s easy!
A message from Levi King, Nav’s co-founder and CEO:
Nearly 20 years ago, I started my first small business. It was an electric sign company in Nampa, Idaho. I hustled hard, learned fast and earned a ton of new customers. Despite my sales success, there was a problem: we were always cash poor.
I spent many a sleepless night trying to make the numbers work and had to figure out the financing stuff on my own. It was the worst part of running a business. Things changed once I “legitifed” my business. I discovered how taking care of my personal and business credit health made it way easier to qualify for the best funding and save money.
That’s why it’s our mission at Nav to help business owners build, protect and leverage their credit data, so they can confidently create the business of their dreams.
And, let’s face it — a little extra cash can always help. I wish you the best of luck on your journey!
More tips to win
Don’t sound corporate; let your (and your business’s) personality shine
Make it clear that you gave your application some thought, and be candid about your business challenge
Be specific about what you would do with the funds
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I can’t sign up for a Nav account?
If you’re having trouble signing up, please give our customer support team a call at 855-226-8388. As part of our sign-up process, we verify your identity so we can give you access to tools and data. If we’re unable to verify your identity in the sign-up process, unfortunately you won’t be able to enter to win the business grant this time around.
What if I’m already a Nav customer?
If you’re already a Nav customer, you’ve already completed the first step of the application process. Congrats! Move on to step two.
How do I tag Nav on Facebook?
In order to tag Nav, you’ll need to like the Nav Facebook page. When you write add your post on your business’s Facebook page, tag Nav using “@navsmb” in the body of your post.
Does my Facbook post have to be on my business page?
Yes, please tag Nav from your business Facebook page. If you’re nervous about sharing a business challenge with your customers for fear that they’ll think your business is in trouble, remember that you can share a challenge that you’ve already tackled or are actively working on. Be creative!
How do I copy the URL of my Facebook post?
Click the three dots in the upper right corner of your post. Under “See more options,” click “Show in tab.” The post should appear in a tab on your Facebook page. In the upper right corner of the tab, click the gear icon and “See full post.” The post should open in a new tab, from there you can copy URL in the address bar.
Is there a minimum word count for the social post?
There is no minimum word count, but please write what you think is adequate to give us a good idea of your business and the challenge you face, you and your business’s personality, and how you would use your funds.
The boring details our lawyers made us write:
Section 1. Agreement (“Agreement”)
I (hereinafter referred to as “I,” “Me,” “Customer,” or “My”) acknowledge that by submitting content to Nav Technologies, Inc. (“Nav”), I accept and agree to the terms and conditions of Nav’s Legitify Your Small Business Grant Contest Agreement (“Program”) as set out in this Agreement, on My behalf and the entity on behalf of which I am acting in an official capacity, if any. I further acknowledge that My submission does not automatically render Me eligible for the Program, and that My eligibility to participate in the Program will be determined solely by Nav as provided in this Agreement. I acknowledge that once deemed eligible for the Program, this Agreement governs My participation in the Program. I acknowledge that those persons (including Me), who are declared eligible will be referred to throughout this Agreement as “Participant”.
Please print out a copy of this agreement for your records.
Section 2. Program.
I acknowledge that I am a Nav Customer and will remain a Customer throughout the Contest. In the event that I am no longer a Customer, Nav has the right to terminate My participation in the Program. I acknowledge that I have been advised to read and review this Agreement and to print a copy for my records. To apply for the Program, the following must be provided:
Write a post on your business’s Facebook page and tag Nav explaining:
1. A challenge you overcame or continue to struggle with in your business
2. What will you do with the grant funds?
3. Bonus points: include a photo of you in action at work!
4. Email the contents of your Facebook post (or a screen shot of the post) to grant@nav.com with the subject line: “Business Grant Application: [Your business name]”
By My submission, I acknowledge that all content submitted to Nav under this Program may be used by Nav in accordance with Nav’s general Terms and Conditions, incorporated by reference herein and acknowledged through My Nav account. I further acknowledge and agree that all content provided to Nav pursuant to the Program is considered property of Nav and I hereby grant to Nav an irrevocable license in any such content included in My submission, including but not limited to any, copyright, trademark, service mark, patent and trade secret rights. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall obligate Nav to publish or otherwise use any content provided by Me. I further acknowledge that the Program is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, and I release Facebook from any claim or liability related to my participation in the Program.
Section 3. Restrictions.
(a) A Participant’s valid email address must be provided during the Customer sign up process. Participant’s participation in the Program constitutes Participant’s permission for Nav to use such email address to communicate with Participant.
(b) Participants must be 18 years of age or older and have a U.S.-based billing address.
(c) Participant acknowledges and agrees that their Nav information and data may be used in accordance with Nav’s general Terms & Conditions.
Section 4. Term of Program.
The Program shall remain in effect until the application deadline of March 15, 2019. Nav reserves the right to (a) modify the application period for the Program; (b) alter or modify the Program or this Agreement; and, (c) suspend or terminate the Program or this Agreement, or terminate a Participant’s participation in the Program, all at any time for any reason through a notice posted by Nav on Nav.com, or as otherwise provided by Nav. In the event a Participant is later determined not to be eligible for the Program after being notified that Participant was eligible, Participant’s participation in the Program will be terminated.
Section 5. Controlling Law and Severability.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the U.S. and the State of Utah, without reference to its conflicts of law provisions. If for any reason a court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision of this Agreement, or a portion thereof, to be unenforceable, that provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible so as to effect the intent of the parties and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 6. Complete Agreement.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement with respect to the Program and supersedes any prior or contemporaneous understandings, representations, statements or agreements, written or oral. No amendment to, modification of, or waiver of any provision of, this Agreement will be binding on Nav without written consent which must be identified as an amendment, modification or waiver.